Did you know that you can use social media to market your online business? Social media is a great way to build your brand awareness and form lasting relationships.  Social media has grown tremendously in recent years, and if used correctly, it can be a great way to promote your small online business or blog. 

Facebook currently has over 2.74 billion users as of January 2021, and Instagram is in a close second.  Twitter, Tik Tok, and YouTube round out the top 5. These numbers prove that social media is a great place to collaborate with idea customers.

Choose Your Platform

Before you begin creating your social media plan choose one or two social media platforms to grow. Conduct research and find out which platform your ideal audience uses. Do not try and build all social media platforms at once. For example, if your ideal audience is Millennials, stats show they are more apt to use Instagram or Facebook. Whereas if your ideal customer is a GenZ, they can be found a majority of the time on the Tik Tok platform.

Connect With Others In Your Niche

Having a blog or engaging in social media groups is an extremely effective way to communicate with others and of course, offer your opinion or knowledge on a particular subject. Not to mention, by working with bloggers with reciprocal blog posts, Facebook updates, or tweets, you can often form a great relationship where you each share your important news with your fans and theirs.

Remember, group moderators or blog owners don’t like spam so it’s best not to pack in several links to your website. A link in the signature line is enough. Comment because you have something to say or you have something useful to share. If someone likes what you say, they’ll most likely click on your signature.

Be Personable

Social media is a great way to show your personality and who the person is behind the business. It’s a great way to grow your following and build relationships. Most people are apt to make a purchase from someone they can see as real. Do not post products for sale constantly. Change it up a bit by adding inspiration quotes, behind the scene images, or even images showing your customers what a workday would be like for you. Personable posts grow trust with your audience and are more likely to convert into sales.

Create A Social Media Plan

Before tackling social media, make sure you have a plan in place. As mentioned above, choose one or two social media platforms, and create an action plan. Write down goals whether it be monthly or bi-monthly. Create a schedule for posting and stick to it. Consistency is the key. By having goals, you will be able to track your results. These results can help you with future goals and plans.

Use Social Media Tools

Social media platforms have several useful tools for business accounts. For example, on Facebook, you can create a business account. The business account will allow you to act solely as your business. That way, your personal account does not interfere with your business account.

One of the tools that Facebook has allows you to edit your call-to-action button which is located under your business profile name.

As you can see, there are several buttons to choose from. Choose the action that you would like for your customer to take.

Facebook also allows business owners to create a shop to sell their products. There are certainly other business tools available that can help grow your business.

Instagram is more of an “image” based platform. It also allows you to create a business account. Instagram features include reels, carousel posts, and stories. All three of these tools are a great way to grow your Instagram audience. You can also add your website link directly in your bio. This will allow users to click the link and visit your website. You can read “5 Ways To Grow Your Instagram Account” for tips on growing your audience.

As you can see, using social media to market your online business is a win-win. Social media platforms not only provide brand awareness but also give business owners the chance to form relationships with their audience. Not to mention, it allows your audience to get to know YOU, the person behind the business. Remember, decide on one or two social media platforms, and create a plan before you start. This will help you be successful from the start!